Sectional barge



W. SMITH SECTIONAL BARGE Aug. 5, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1949 o o a o Filed Sept. 23, 1949 i y l?.l SHEETS- SHEET 2 Allg# 5,*-1952 w. w. SMITH v 2,605,733

^ sEcTIoNAL BARGE INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1 952 Tnei invention relates'. toi sectionalV barges.: and., clamp means;'the-1atteradaptedforfuse i'n hold:-y ing` Vthesectienscfithe: barge infiaissernlolyan'drfor4 otheruses- "j,-

It' is an object of 'the invention` to'N provide'f'a sectional barge comprising'aiplurality; orindividualv tanks 'so clamped-f together v as tov form, Vin eifecti a single rigid whole.

Itfisa further object ofy the-v invention to". pro-fv vide a sectional barge: comprising a1pl'uralityzof tanks formedfwith recesses'in-their meetingwalls" with wedge clamp 'meansllioused' in the recesses to clamp the meetingwallsi-of thetankintorigid contact.

It is a further object- -to providei aVl sectional barge, as above, with dowelmeansfto resist relative motionl between the meeting walls and further `servii'ig to guidetlieparts to registration during assembly; f

It is a further object to provide a clamp means utilizing a wedge, the clamp-housed'in-facing re cesses in the structuresto ibe clamped' together', and'operable to draw togetheranytwost'ructures-l to which the clampV may be applied. While the clamp, as illustrated in use in a sectionalbarge,l is placed in a vertical position, itlis obvious-that'- it may bey placed horizontally' in` horizontal re- CeSSeS ,maybe-supplied@ Y 1 To secure the itanks' together; v clampin'gfmeansi are'fhousedf in meeting" l'1e`ce'sses'-=-I1;- two o'fwliicli are shown asprovided-l ea'chiv meeting walllof the tanks. To provide wedge surfaces rin tlierecessesfA there arefi showxr-chan-ner` irons# I 8 f andQI- beams` ISiweldediiito eaeliifof'i-,ne saidrrv recesses.

Assclearl'y show'nfineFigui-e- 6;? tlie iiiner=wa^ll= of 'thelv recesses isl'ope :downwardly andawayifrom the opposite lwallsf-oftnef meeting recesses as indicated at2021 thus-=causihgftheichannels- I`8 and the 'angesf 22 i of '-t1ie= I-loeamsi to occupyf the downwardly aringpositibn Lshown' iii-Figuroftv To provide.v a wedge clampingL member forv coaction with the;said-f1aringf1-anges; t-lie'felement 23 shown at Figure 8 is provided. As shown; thisv element` may' be formed' off'Tf structural shapes with the web@ nar-rower at' thestopetlianat; the bottom and-with-v the edgesffwelded' together asl at 24, thus causingA the ilanges-l25`of 'theelement 23 to flare downwardly and outwardly. The: flanges 25E are approximately the'fv same widtlf at top andi bottom",as-indicatedati-Wi W-j Fig. 8l Reinforcement plates-26",' 21 vares-hewn as` secured `over-the weldedline'to preventfseparationunder the very large stresses to'- fwhich the element' Further'objects willappe'arfromfthe following description when read withv the accompanying drawingssho'wing an illustrative*embodiment-"or-` the invention and wherein: f I Fig; 1 is 'a perspectiveview of 'asectional barge; l

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section'o1'r1inef-2`-2"v of Figure l; o

Figure 3 -is a detail horizontalsection on line 3-'3-, Figure 6'; y

Fig'. 4 is Aa detail' vertical`v lsection on line @-4,

Figr. 5 i-fa detail plan viewbf vtwo-meeting' re cesses with'the clamp inplace;r f Y Fig; 6 is a detail vertical sectiononfline i-li;

Figure; y

Fig. 72 is a` detail horizontal section showingaV draw -bolt clip on line "If-JI, Figure 6; and

Fig.v Sis-a perspectivelview' of l' af-'wedg'e' clamp-f ingr-member.

As-sliowm the-sectional barge of the invention is madefup'of a plurality voi tanks I0`, each formedv with'V structural steelwframing membersI I l l and bracesY I2; towhichoutside plates -|3 Vare shownA assecuredL-g Thetanks-referredlto are-shown as'-V formed'withbitts;y Ill4 and cleat-,sy I SWhere desired for, userin' navigation. vAtjI 6'- there fisl diagramf matically "shown a ventilatorfrk thel interiorof ymayV bef subjectedlfand# an'` opening-f 28 is-sliownY throughv whichalclevspinxnayfbe inserted'when it is desired tol pullthefelement 23fout"ofiuse;1

To forcev the element`23dow-n'Wart'ilywith' the'y flanges 25 overlappingef the anges# 2'I, 22; a'l bracket 29: is shownasfseouredtofthe'outsidefof each of "the :iia'nges 1:2 51; the-'- saidffbrackets formedv each with asslot- 302' tof-be engaged* b'yf' a nut 3 I.y carried' by` an eye-bolt `32 ypivoted upon a' rod"` 33 secured i in eaclirecess I Ti Y T'of liolditlief-eyeebolts f upon the an'ges'- off tirer!channels@l I=8 -f andy I- sectional barges-5. wlieref.;l thel forcesl inf` a-r Seaway-Av tendingv tofsepar'ate theftanksi-are/sfvery great;

Underflesssevere conditions b'utfoneg-wed'gemenrfA berl lmay *bei desirableyinf wliioisfci'isefftle.'recessi vv 3 l1 will be of less width and in eiect the I-beam I9 may be omitted and one of the channels I8 moved over to its position. To resist motion of the meeting walls of the sections of the barge, the Wall of each thereof adjacent to the top and bottom surfaces are provided with dowels in the form of a conical shell, or a solid body, 35 formed upon one meeting wall and the complementary recess 3E upon the other wall which dowels will oifiyflresist motion in the plane of the walls but" willguidthe separate elements I0 into registration when they are drawn together.

As shown, and as at present preferred, the-'lfacing channels with their ilanges presenting a slot for receipt of the web of the wedge member of I-shape and the wedge member would comprise facing channel shapes with opposed flanges presentingtheslot. A v Y t,

The wedge member shown maybe formed from an I-beam w i thout .was te by cuttingthe web at an angle t0,theifianeesreversine One-half section,and weldingthe freeedges-of the webs togethn l -l j i,

In like mannerthe :angle 1 members ,31 shown as reinforcing the meeting walls ofthe recesses i1 may be made, without-waste by cutting the webs of channel shapes atan angle Acomplemental tothe angle at whicnthe members lI8 are placed and reversing fone section vvfor placement. So constructed, theforce.of the' wedge applied to the channels 8;-will b etransrnitted to the webs of angles'l tok press the` facingangles 31 of two barge sectionstogether vproviding an immensely strong structure.A

It ,is readily apparent that the4 barge of the invention maybefbroken up Aby removal of the wedges and the several tanks may by use of a derrick be placed onxcars lfor rail transportation. i Y

Itwill ..be seen that if desired a false bow and Stern-mei be-.Sesame reihe. end'seciions I0 if it is founddthat their; addition Will have suicient remain .leseenine-the resistance toiowine.- It will. also be; seen; 4that the v,wedge clamp maybe utilized 'ifi ami .structure weichem Conveniently' be prQvde l-.With-. recesses inI meeting walls of porti0nS. thereQf,-,- and that-the clamp as above stated Vmaybe placedin gahorizontal' position insteadof verticallyes shewm y .v Y

To .permit escape of waterfrom the space l1 when the assembledbargeis hauledout, as on a ship railway, the bottomsr of the/spaces are desirably perforated as indicated at 40. To absorb expansion pressures, wooden pins vmay be inserted in theholes 40, Where the structure isto be usedunder conditions. for forming ice. The pins .may be long enough to extend to the full length of.. the recesses; y

Minorv changes may'4 be; made in the physical embodiment lofthe invention, within the scope 0f. the ...appendedclaims without departing from the epritpfrtiieiriyeniion. 1 Y i 1.;In;as ectional barge; in'. combination: ga' plurality of adjacent tank structures formed with registering recesses v,in the ymeeting walls; Wedge clamping means ,housed in the space formed by Said registering; :recesses cerninrisimev spaced Webbed members presenting l oppesed channels and separated ilanges with a: slot therebetween secured Vto each of -saidmtank structuresl the anses of seid ,spaced webbed members secured The reverse of this arrangementv is usable,f j wherein the structure-carriedmembers would be to one of said tank structures being so placed with respect to the anges of said spaced Webbed members secured to an adjacent tank structure as to be nearer together at one end of said space than at the remaining end, a clamping element of I-beam conguration with the web of said I-beam wider at one end than at the other end, the web of said clamping element receivable in the slots between said separated flanges to bring the clamping element into wedging relation; and traction means for forcibly drawing adjacent tank structures together comprising brackets secured to said clamping element and coacting structure carried members are provided with l5 locking bolts secured to said adjacent tank structures.

2; A barge comprising a plurality of separable barge sections, eachof said sections having a substantially ilat vertical Wall with a recess thereinie'xtending from the top of the section down said wall, the vertical walls of adjacent sections being inabutting relation and the recesses therein being located opposite each other, aslotted trackway: located in each recess and extending lengthwise thereof, the trackways of opposed` recesses diverging downwardly away from each other`4 lengthwise of the recesses, and a wedging member engaging each of said trackways throughout its `length and extending through the slotsthereof to maintain said barge sections together, said wedging member being insertable into contactwith said trackways from the top of the barge sections whereby said wedging member may bedriven downward to draw adjacent barge sections toward each other Y and clamp them together.

3. A barge comprising a plurality of separable barge sections, each o f said sections having a substantially fiat vertical wall with a recess extending from the top of the section down said wall, the vertical Walls of adjacent sections being in abutting relation andthe recesses therein beinglocated opposite each other, a slotted track- Way located in each recess and extending lengthwise thereof, theltrackways of opposed recesses diverging downwardly away from each other lengthwise of the recesses, and Van I-beam having flanges engaging each of said trackways throughout the length of said I-beam, the I- beam extending throughthe slots of the trackways to maintain said barge sections together, said 'I-beam being insertable into contact with theV trackway from the top of the barge section whereby said I -beam maybe driven downward Ato Vdraw adjacent `barge sections toward each other and clamp them together.

4. A barge comprising a plurality of separable Vbarge sections, each section having a substantially flatwall, anopen end elongated recess located in each of said ilat walls, the at walls of adjacentsections being in vabutting relationl and the recesses thereinbeing located opposite each other, a pair of spaced apart lengthwise extending flanges located in each recess,v said flanges being positioned in edgewise relation and defining a slot extending substantially the length of the recess, the vpairs of flanges in opposed recesses diverging away from each other lengthwise from the open ends of the recesses, and an I-beam, having its ilanges located in said opposed recesses in contact with the flanges thereof and its web extending through the slots defined by the recess lflanges, said-I-beam anges diverging'from eachother lengthwise of I-beam in an `al,m` ni1 1t corresp'oncii'rig to the divergence of .Seid,eleesed` Paiste? recess' enees whereby the I-beam may be inserted into open ends of opposed recesses and driven lengthwise thereof to Wedge adjacent barge sections together and may be removed through said open ends to uncouple said sections.

5. A barge comprising a plurality of separable barge sections, each of said sections having a substantially fiat vertical wall with a recess therein extending from the top of the section down said wall, the vertical walls of adjacent sections being in abutting relation and the recesses therein being located opposite each other, a slotted trackway located in each recess and extending lengthwise thereof, the trackways of opposed recesses diverging downwardly away from each other lengthwise of the recesses, locking bolts pivotally mounted in said recesses near the top of.

the barge sections, and a wedging member having brackets secured at one end thereof, said wedging member engaging each of said trackways throughout its length and extending through the slots thereof to maintain said barge sections together, said wedging member being insertable into contact with said trackways from the top of the barge sections whereby said wedging member may be driven downward to draw adjacent barge sections toward each other and clamp them together, the locking bolts co-acting with the brackets on thek wedging member to draw said adjacent sections together.

6. A barge comprising a plurality of separable barge sections, each of said sections having a substantially flat vertical wall with a recess extending from the top of the section down said Wall, the vertical walls of adjacent sections being in abutting relation and the recesses therein being located opposite each other, a slotted trackway located in each recess and extending lengthwise thereof, the trackways of opposed recesses diverging downwardly away from each other lengthwise of the recesses, lockingbolts pivotally mounted in said recesses near the top of the barge sections, and an I-beam having anges engaging each of said trackways throughout the length Vof said I-beam, brackets secured to the I- beam near one end thereof, the I-beam extending through the slots of the trackways to maintain said barge sections together, said I-beam being insertable into contact with the trackway from the top of the barge section whereby said I-beam may be driven downward to draw adjacent barge sections toward each other and clamp them together, the locking bolts co-acting with the brackets on the wedging member to draw said adjacent sections together. l

7. A barge comprising a plurality of separable barge sections, each section having a substantially flat wall, an open end elongated recess 1ocated in each of said flat walls, the flat walls of adjacent sections being in abutting relation and the recesses therein being located opposite each other, a pair of spaced apart lengthwise extending flanges located in each recess, said anges being positioned in edgewise relation and defining a slot extending substantially the length of the recess, the pairs 'of flanges in opposedrecesses diverging away from each other lengthwise from the open ends of the recesses, locking bolts pivotally mounted in said recesses near the top of the barge sections, and an I-beam having its flanges located in said opposed recesses in contact with the flanges thereof and its web extending through the slots dened by the recess anges, said I-beam flanges diverging from each other lengthwise of I-beam in an amount corresponding to the divergence of said opposed pairs of Y recess flanges and brackets secured to said I- beam at the end where the I-beam flanges are closest together, whereby the I-beam may be inserted into open ends 0f opposed recesses and driven lengthwise thereof to wedge adjacent barge sections together, the locking bolts co-acting with the brackets to drive said I-beam lengthwise of the recesses, the I-beam being removable through said open ends to uncouple said sections.

' WALLACE W. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following Areferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 820,974 I-Iilpert May 22, 1906 1,964,203 Isherwood et al June 26, 1934 2,379,904 Harris July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 625 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1913 2,200 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1886 654,485 Germany Dec. 20,1937 

